Paper-based Biofuel Cell Research Articles

Self-Powered Diaper Sensor with Wireless Transmitter Powered by Paper-Based Biofuel Cell with Urine Glucose as Fuel.

A self-driven sensor that can detect urine and urine sugar and can be mounted on diapers is desirable to reduce the burden of long-term care. In this study, we created a paper-based glucose biofuel cell that can be mounted on diapers to detect urine sugar. Electrodes for biofuel cells were produced by printing MgO-templated porous carbon on which poly(glycidyl methacrylate) was modified using graft polymerization. A new bioanode was prepared through covalently modifying flavin-adenine-dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase and azure A with pendant glycidyl groups of poly(glycidyl methacrylate). We prepared a cathode with covalently bonded bilirubin oxidase. Covalent bonding of enzymes and mediators to both the bioanode and biocathode suppressed elution and improved stability. The biofuel cell could achieve a maximum output density of 0.12 mW cm–2, and by combining it with a wireless transmission device, the concentration of glucose sensed from the transmission frequency was in the range of 0–10 mM. The sensitivity of the sensor was estimated at 0.0030 ± 0.0002 Hz mmol–1 dm3. This device is expected to be a new urine-sugar detection device, composed only of organic materials with a low environmental load and it can be useful for detecting postprandial hyperglycemia.

Paper-based lactate biofuel cell array with high power output

Printable wearable lactate biosensors have attracted significant attention, and printable lactate biofuel cells have gained popularity as suitable power supplies for these sensors. However, realizing an appropriate power supply for the practical application of these sensors as wearable devices, it is necessary to improve the output of lactate biofuel cells. In this study, we fabricated a lactate biofuel cell that employed paper substrate using screen printing. The proposed paper-based biofuel cell (PBFC) features a novel electrode design that affords an open circuit voltage of approximately 3.4 V when using an array with six cells in series. Furthermore, a 6 × 6 array of the lactate biofuel cell, i.e., an array comprising six cells in series and six cells in parallel, yielded a power output of 4.3 mW. To the best of our knowledge, this output of the proposed design is higher than those of previously reported lactate biofuel cells. Arrays of the proposed cell were capable of driving a Bluetooth low-energy device for wireless transmission, without requiring a booster circuit. A commercially available activity meter could be driven for 1.5 h using artificial sweat to fuel a 6 × 6 array of the PBFCs.

Ready-to-use paper biofuel cell driven by water

A biofuel cell that can generate electricity using only water is expected to be used as a new energy harvester for an emergency power supply. A new 4-series/4-parallel structured paper-substrate biofuel cell was prepared using a fuel supply paper preloaded with glucose and phosphate buffer salts. When a power generation test was conducted by supplying water to the fuel-preloaded paper, the paper-based biofuel cell produced an output approximately 90% (0.84 mW) of that obtained by supplying a phosphate buffer containing glucose as the electrolyte. The open-circuit voltage was 2.1 V, and an LED could be powered by simply supplying water to the cell without using a booster circuit.

Standalone operation of an EGOFET for ultra-sensitive detection of HIV

A point-of-care (POC) device to enable de-centralized diagnostics can effectively reduce the time to treatment, especially in case of infectious diseases. However, many of the POC solutions presented so far do not comply with the ASSURED (affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid and robust, equipment free, and deliverable to users) guidelines that are needed to ensure their on-field deployment. Herein, we present the proof of concept of a self-powered platform that operates using the analysed fluid, mimicking a blood sample, for early stage detection of HIV-1 infection. The platform contains a smart interfacing circuit to operate an ultra-sensitive electrolyte-gated field-effect transistor (EGOFET) as a sensor and facilitates an easy and affordable readout mechanism. The sensor transduces the bio-recognition event taking place at the gate electrode functionalized with the antibody against the HIV-1 p24 capsid protein, while it is powered via paper-based biofuel cell (BFC) that extracts the energy from the analysed sample itself. The self-powered platform is demonstrated to achieve detection of HIV-1 p24 antigens in fM range, suitable for early diagnosis. From these developments, a cost-effective digital POC device able to detect the transition from “healthy” to “infected” state at single-molecule precision, with no dependency on external power sources while using minimal components and simpler approach, is foreseen.

Paper‐Based Disposable Zinc‐Vanadium Fuel Cell for Micropower Applications

AbstractThe emergence properties of paper as the ionic conductor has driven the new development in energy generators mainly micro‐nano scale energy. Instead of the flow channels in conventional fuel cells, the capillary action of the paper controls the flow of the electrolytes. Paper based biofuel cells and electrochemical fuel cells are recent trends in micro‐nano power generation to support the biosensors. In this study, zinc fuel and oxidant were used to form a membraneless fuel cell. Instead of membrane, Whatmann® 2 filter paper was used as the separator cum autonomous microfluidic pumping system. When 6 M KOH and 1.5 M in 2.5 M H2SO4 were supplied on the anode and cathode respectively, a peak power density of 9.4 mW cm−2 at 1.21 V and open circuit voltage of ∼ 2.5 V were realized. Due to the low cost and high power associated with this system, it can be used to power the Lab‐on‐Chip devices employed for single use point‐of‐care applications.

Visual distance readout to display the level of energy generation in paper-based biofuel cells: application to enzymatic sensing of glucose.

Biofuel cells (BFCs) based on anodic oxidation and cathodic oxygen reduction represent an attractive alternative to self-powered devices. A glucose/oxygen BFC is described for monitoring glucose. It is making use of a piece of paper carrying a glucose oxidase (GOx) based bioanode, and a bilirubin oxidase (BilOx) based biocathode. The performance of the BFC is affected by the generation of H2O2, a byproduct of enzymatic glucose oxidation. Therefore, the removal of H2O2 is a crucial step in terms of BFC performance and stability. In addition, direct, unambiguous visual read-out is an ideal way to provide quantitative information. The colorimetric readout system described here is based on the consumption of undesired H2O2 and to convert the extent of energy generation into recognizable variations in color. As the H2O2 travels along the hydrophilic channel by capillary action, the formation of red gold nanoparticles from AuCl4- leads to the appearance of a red bar that provides distance-based information that can be read visually. The multiply readable information (maximum power density of BFC or visible distance) provides further choices for quantification. It also enhances reliability. The self-powered system based on the BFC exhibits excellent performance. Glucose can bedetermined by this method in the 1 to 50mM concentration range. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a paper-supported biofuel cell equipped with a visual distance readout to display the level of energy generation in biofuel cells, andits application in sensing of glucose.

A Paper-Based Bio Fuel Cell Generating Power from the Biofilm of Bacillus Subtilis Bacteria

A Paper-Based Bio Fuel Cell Generating Power from the Biofilm of Bacillus Subtilis Bacteria

‘Plug-and-Power’ Point-of-Care diagnostics: A novel approach for self-powered electronic reader-based portable analytical devices

This paper presents an innovative approach in the portable Point-of-Care diagnostics field, the Plug-and-Power concept. In this new disposable sensor and plug-and-play reader paradigm, the energy required to perform a measurement is always available within the disposable test component. The reader unit contains all the required electronic modules to run the test, process data and display the result, but does not include any battery or power source. Instead, the disposable part acts as both the sensor and the power source. Additionally, this approach provides environmental benefits related to battery usage and disposal, as the paper-based power source has non-toxic redox chemistry that makes it eco-friendly and safe to follow the same waste stream as disposable test strips. The feasibility of this Plug-and-Power approach is demonstrated in this work with the development of a self-powered portable glucometer consisting of two parts: a test strip including a paper-based power source and a paper-based biofuel cell as a glucose sensor; and an application-specific battery-less electronic reader designed to extract the energy from the test strip, process the signal provided and show the glucose concentration on a display. The device was tested with human serum samples with glucose concentrations between 5 and 30 mM, providing quantitative results in good agreement with commercial measuring instruments. The advantages of the present approach can be extended to any kind of biosensors measuring different analytes and biological matrices, and in this way, strengthen the goals of Point-of-Care diagnostics towards laboratory decentralization, personalized medicine and improving patient compliance.

(Invited) Paper-Based Printable Lactate/Glucose Biofuel Cell Toward Self-Powered Biosensor

A paper-based biofuel cell (PBFC) which is based on printing technologies, are attracting increasing attention as new energy harvesting systems for sensor tags, wearable biomedical devices, and small electrical devices [1-3]. The PBFC is also useful for a self-powered biosensing system [4-5] In this talk, I introduce a high power lactate/glucose PBFC, which was created by series and parallel array structures. The single PBFC was composed of a bioanode and a biocathode that were based on porous carbon electrodes constructed using porous carbon inks. The porous carbon material, namely MgO-templated carbon, has suitable mesopores for entrapping an enzyme whose redox center can approach the carbon surface with high probability. In addition, the long-term stability may be improved because the ellusion of the enzyme was suppressed by entrapping the enzyme in the mesopore. A 6-series/6-parallel lactate PBFC array, which is based on a new array structure, exhibited an output power of about 4.3 mW, and an open circuit voltage of about 3.6 V. For example, the present PBFC was able to light an LED directly, without the requirement of a step-up circuit board and we achieve a wireless transmitting of the information of lactate concentration with a smart phone. In the present study, I will show you our resent results about printable lactate/glucose self-powered biosensors. Acknowledgement This work was supported by JST-ASTEP Grant Number AS272S004a and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 17H02162. References C. W. N. Villarrubia, F. Soavi, C. Santoro, C. Arbizzani, A. Serov, S. Rojas-Carbonell, G. Gupta and P. Atanassov, Biosens. Bioelectron., 2016, 86, 459. M. J. González-Guerrero, F. J. del Campo, J. P. Esquivel, F. Giroud, S. D. Minteer and N. Sabaté, J. Power Sources, 2016, 326, 410. S. Li, Y. Wang, S. Ge, J. Yu and M. Yan, Biosens. Bioelectron., 2015, 71, 18. I. Shitanda, M. Momiyama, N. Watanabe, T. Tanaka, S. Tsujimura, Y. Hoshi, M. Itagaki, ChemElectroChem, 2017, 4, 2460.I. Shitanda, S. Nohara, Y. Hoshi, M. Itagaki, S. Tsujimura, J. Power Sources, 2017,

Performance Evaluation of Screen-Printed Paper-Based Glucose Biofuel Cell Using MgO-Templated Porous Carbon Material for Self-Powered Diaper Sensor

Recently, biofuel cells have been attracted attention as compact and safe wearable power sources [1]. We have reported paper-based glucose biofuel cells in which porous carbon materials were printed by screen printing technique [2,3]. The biofuel cell can be expected to be applied to self-powered urine sugar biosensor for inspecting diabetes. In this study, we fabricated a disk-shaped paper-based biofuel cell array for power source of a self-powered diaper sensor. In this paper, we discuss a performance of a single biofuel cell. The paper-based biofuel cell anode and cathode were fabricated by screen-printing. The MgO-templated porous carbon ink was printed for bioanode and biocathode. Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and glucose oxidase (GOD) was modified on the bioanode surface. The biocathode was prepared by modifying bilirubin oxidase (BOD). The biofuel cell was prepared by stacking the non-printed side of paper substrate of bioanode and biocathode by using water repellent double-sided tape. During the measurements, the edges of the paper substrate of bioanode, the biocathode and the cell were immersed in the 1 M phosphate buffer solution containing glucose. Figure1 shows cyclic voltammograms of the bioanode in a phosphate buffer containing 100 mM glucose at 37 ℃. Compared to the background current measured in 0 mM glucose solution, a catalytic current wave related to glucose oxidation was clearly observed in the presence of glucose, and the maximum current density was 7.4 mA cm-2 at 0.5 V. Figure 2 shows the relation between power density and operating cell voltage with different concentration of glucose at 37 ℃. It was confirmed that the output power density increased along with increase of the glucose concentration. Finally, a disk-type biofuel cell array was prepared and output evaluation was carried out. Acknowledgement This work was supported by JST-ASTEP Grant Number AS272S004a. References(1) L. Zhang et al., Biosens. Bioelectron. 35 (2012)155-159.(2) I. Shitanda et al., Chem. Commun. 49 (2013) 11110-11112.(3) I. Shitanda et al., J. Power Sources, 360 (2017) 516-519. Figure 1

(Invited) Electrochemical Impedance Analysis of Printable Porous Carbon Electrode for Realization of High-Power Biofuel Cell and Wearable Self-Powered Biosensor

A paper-based biofuel cell (PBFC) have been attracted as a potential application as energy harvesting power sources in the Internet of Things (IoT) field [1-3]. To use the PBFC for practical application, the cell power density of PBFC, generally limited by the biocathode performance, should be improved. The distance between the redox site of the enzyme and the electrode material surface is one of the key factors for biocathode development. By entrapping enzymes in a mesopore of a porous carbon material, the redox center can approach the electrode material surface with high probability. In addition, the stability of the enzyme may be improved. A branch structure (double pore structure) porous carbon material is a suitable porous material for biosensors and biofuel cell electrodes, because the branch structure porous carbon material such as MgO-templated mesoporous carbon (MgOC) has large specific surface areas and mesopores whose size can be easily controlled. In the present study, we formed the branch structure porous carbon electrodes for biofuel cathode by screen-printing technique, and the electrode performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to improve the electrode structure for biofuel cell cathode. In the present paper, we discuss the experimental result in detail and introduce our wearable PBFC performance using the printed porous carbon electrodes. [1] I. Shitanda et al., Chem. Commun. 49 (2013) 11110. [2] Claudia W. Narváez Villarrubia et al., Electrochem. Commun, 45 (2014) 44. [3] Carolin Lau et al., Int. J. Hydrogen. Energy, 42 (2015) 14661.

(Invited) Printable Paper-Based Wearable Diaper-Type and Adhesive Bandage-Type Biofuel Cells for Urine Sugar and Sweat Lactate Monitoring

Printable Electrochemistry has attracted attention for the development field of a disposable biosensor and biofuel cell. A printable paper-based biofuel cell (PBFC) is useful for energy harvesting power sources in the Internet of Things (IoT) field [1-3]. In addition, PBFC is suitable for an application as a self-powered wearable sensor. In the present study, I introduce two paper-based wearable biofuel cells fabricated by screen-printing technique (Fig. 1). One is used as a self-powered diaper sensor (right side in Fig. 1). The biofuel cell can generate electric power from glucose in urine. The maximum output power increase along with increase of glucose concentration. Thus, we can monitor the glucose concentration by measuring the maximum output power. The paper-based biofuel cell exhibited a maximum power density of 0.7 mW in 100 mM glucose solution. Our group also developed an adhesive bandage-type biofuel cell, which get a power from lactate in sweat (left side in Fig. 1). In the present study, we discuss the characteristics of the wearable biofuel cells in detail. Acknowledgement This work was supported by JST-ASTEP Grant Number AS272S004a.

Paper-Based Biofuel Array for Self-Powered Wearable Biosensors

We name the Printable Electrochemistry for the development field of printable electrochemical devices [1,2]. Recently, we focus on several paper-based fully-printable electrochemical devices such as biofuel cell [3], biosensor [4] and reference electrode [5]. Paper-based biofuel cell have been attracted as a potential application as energy harvesting power sources in Internet of things (IoT) field [6,7]. In the present study, we newly developed paper-based wearable biofuel cell array fabricated by screen-printing. Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of one of our wearable biofuel cell array. The paper-based biofuel cell array exhibited a maximum power density of 1 mW. The present flexible paper-based biofuel cell is highly applicable to the development of low cost, flexible, ubiquitous energy devices. In the present study, we discuss the characteristics of the wearable biofuel cells in detail. [1] I. Shitanda et al., Electrochim. Acta 54 (2009) 4933. [2] I. Shitanda et al., Sens. Actu. B: Chem. 160 (2011) 1606. [3] I. Shitanda et al., Chem. Commun. 49 (2013) 11110. [4] I. Shitanda et al., Chem. Lett. 42 (2013) 1369. [5] I.Shitanda et al., Analyst, 140 (2015) 6481. [6] Claudia W. Narváez Villarrubia et al., Electrochem. Commun, 45 (2014) 44. [7] Carolin Lau et al., Int. J. Hydrogen. Energy, 42 (2015) 14661. Figure 1

Paper based biofuel cells: Incorporating enzymatic cascades for ethanol and methanol oxidation

Here we developed a flow-based system resulting in improved performance of enzyme cascade-based biofuel cells. A paper-based biofuel cell with passive laminar flow was build to show the impact of flow on the performance of two different enzyme cascades – methanol and ethanol cascade. Both cascades demonstrated enhanced electrochemical output as a consequence of the decreased diffusion path of reaction intermediates identifying the intermediates diffusion in between enzymatic active sites as the rate limiting step in cascade operating systems.

Characteristics of Paper-Based Lactate-O2 Biofuel Cell and Its Application for Wearable Devise

There has been considerable recent interest in wearable biofuel cells based on printing technologies.1 Screen-printing technique has following merits; drawing precise pattern of um order, a wide variety of inks, high reproducibility, and low cost. Thus, screen-printing has been widely used for fabrication of electrochemical devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells, biosensors and corrosion sensor. 2-5 Recently, we prepared a screen-printed paper-based biofuel cell using porous carbon inks and showed its high output power. 6 In the present study, we newly demonstrated a screen-printed paper-based biofuel cell which consisted of lactose oxidase-modified and billirubin oxidase-modified porous carbon electrode fabricated on the paper substrate. Firstly, the characteristics of the bioanode and biocathode were investigated independently by the three-electrode method; the bioanode or biocathode was connected to a potentiostat. A Ag|AgCl reference electrode and Pt wire counter electrode were placed in the electrolyte solution. Then, electrochemical response of the BFC was examined.

Flexible Paper-Based Biofuel Cells Fabricated By Screen-Printing

Biofuel cells (BFCs) are energy conversion systems that produce electricity from biological resources such as sugars and alcohols with the aid of specific enzymes.1-3 More recently, flexible, light, and thin BFC devices based on printing technologies have attracted increasing attention to address these drawbacks.4-8 Screen-printing technique has been widely applied to fabrication of electrochemical devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells9, biosensors10-13 and corrosion sensor14 since it has following merits: (a) drawing precise pattern of mm order, (b) a wide variety of inks, (c) high reproducibility, and (d) low cost. Recetnly, we fabricated a fully screen-printed paper-based chromatographic biosensor chip for glucose detection14. In this study, we prepared several screen-printed paper-based biofuel cell with different stuctures and investigated its characteristics. In this abstract, we introduced a paper-based BFC.15 The BFC is composed of bioanode and biocathode components in which porous carbon electrodes were built using porous carbon inks. The present BFC functions by soaking the bottom of the printed-paper in electrolyte solution to spread the electrolyte solution throughout the paper. We found a Japanese paper to be a suitable printable substrate since the Japanese paper has high water absorbency. Electrochemical response of the BFC was examined The open circuit potential was 0.55 V, which is attributed to the difference of the onset potentials of the bioanode and biocathode. The maximum power density was 0.12 mW cm−2 at 0.4 V. In the present study, we improved the power density by changing in the anode and cathode materials and stracture of the BFC.

Fabrication of Fully Screen-Printed Paper-Based Biofuel Cell Using Porous Carbon Inks

not Available.

Flexible and high-performance paper-based biofuel cells using printed porous carbon electrodes

We demonstrate a flexible paper-based biofuel cell using porous carbon inks for high power output. The power density of the fabricated biofuel cell reached 0.12 mW cm(-2) (at 0.4 V), which is the highest output power reported to date, to the best of our knowledge.

Development of paper based electrodes: From air-breathing to paintable enzymatic cathodes

This work presents the results from the development of bio-cathodes for the application on paper-based biofuel cells. Our main goal here is to demonstrate the possibility of using different designs of air-breathing bio-cathodes and ink-based bio-cathodes for this new type of paper based electrochemical cell. The electrochemical performance for the bio-electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction was studied by using open circuit voltage and amperometry measurements, as well as polarization curves to probe the four-electron reduction reaction of ambient oxygen catalyzed by bilirubin oxidase (BOx). The electrochemical measurements showed that all procedures allowed the direct electron transfer from the active site of the bilirubin oxidase to the electrode surface with a limiting current density of almost 500μAcm−2 for an air-breathing BOx cathode and 150μAcm−2 for an ink based BOx cathode. Under a load of 300mV a stable current density was obtained for 12h of continuous operation.

Paper based Biofuel Cells: Design of Air-Breathing Bio-cathodes

not Available.